Blister packaging for liquid and use thereof and method for supplying a liquid to a fluidic assembly

ABSTRACT

A packaging, particularly a blister packaging, is proposed, having at least one cavity for holding a liquid and having an integrated opening device. The packaging can be used as a reservoir for a liquid for connecting to a fluidic assembly. The packaging is opened by partial deformation of the packaging.

The present invention relates to a packaging, particularly blister packaging, having at least one cavity for holding a liquid, according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention further relates to the use of a cavity of blister packaging as a reservoir for a liquid and a method of supplying liquid from packaging to a fluidic assembly.

The present invention relates to the admission of a liquid into a packaging, particularly a blister packaging. The liquid is admitted into a cavity in the packaging. The cavity is formed in particular by a blister. The following description is therefore directed to a blister pack or to a blister for holding a liquid, even if the present invention is not restricted to this but may also preferably be used in other liquid packaging.

The filling of one or more cavities with substances, solid objects or liquids is known, for example, from the field of so-called visual packaging or blister packs. Blister packs are used in various sectors and industrial fields and are provided with at least one cavity into which the contents to be packed therein are introduced. As a rule the contents of the cavity are visible from outside. However, the blister packs may also cover or encase the contents or the liquid contained therein in airtight or concealed manner.

A typical blister pack usually comprises two films which in turn may be made up of several layers of different or identical materials. The films are generally made of plastics and/or metal, e.g. aluminium, while other materials such as paper or the like may theoretically also be used, or used in addition. The two films are, in particular, a base layer or base film (support) and a cover layer or cover film (cover).

In the base film or support there may be one or more wells or depressions for holding the liquid, into which the liquid, particularly a pharmaceutical formulation, is introduced. The cover film or the cover is then placed on the base film or support and fixed or attached thereto, and this is done, for example, at the edges or in a connecting region, particularly in flatly abutting surface regions, preferably by adhesion, heat-sealing, welding or the like.

DE 103 43 668 A1 discloses a particularly leaktight blister pack for medicaments; the opening of the blister pack is not described in detail.

DE 20 2007 003 050 U1 discloses a blister pack for a liquid active substance. Here, the active substance is supposed to be released into the environment by diffusion. However, this is precisely what the packaging according to the invention sets out to prevent.

The present invention relates in particular to a blister packaging which is mounted on a fluidic assembly, preferably a medicinal cartridge (for example a so-called biosensor), in which the liquid introduced into the cavity of the blister packaging, particularly provided with a reagent or a number of reagents, is supposed to initiate or permit a certain analytical reaction in the cartridge. The opening of the cavity, if required, should be capable of being carried out easily and/or in a defined manner.

The problem on which the present invention is based is to provide a packaging, particularly a blister packaging, having a cavity for holding a liquid, a use of such a packaging and a method of supplying liquid to a fluidic assembly, while simple and/or defined opening of the packaging or cavity is enabled or assisted.

The above problem is solved by a packaging according to claim 1, a use according to claim 12 or a method according to claim 13. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the sub-claims.

According to the proposal, the packaging comprises an opening device integrated in the packaging for opening the cavity or, in particular, a cover of the packaging. The opening device is formed, in particular, in or by a support of the packaging. This permits simple and/or economical manufacture, and simple and/or defined opening of the packaging or of the liquid-filled cavity.

According to the proposal, the packaging or a blister packaging having an integrated opening device as mentioned hereinbefore is used as a reservoir for a liquid, particularly for an investigation liquid, a washing liquid, a reaction liquid, a solvent or the like, while the packaging or cavity is connected to a fluidic assembly for receiving the liquid after the packaging or cavity has been opened. This enables the fluidic assembly to be supplied with the liquid in a very easy and inexpensive manner. The fluidic assembly is, in particular, a microfluidic investigating device, for example, for detecting at least one analyte in a biological sample such as blood or blood constituents.

According to the proposal, liquid is supplied from the packaging to a fluidic assembly configured in particular as mentioned hereinbefore, by the packaging being—at least partially—deformed in order to actuate the opening device and thereby open the packaging or cavity. Moreover, the packaging or cavity can be deformed (additionally and/or in a second step) in order to expel liquid from the packaging and/or supply it to the fluidic assembly—particularly under pressure. In this way, a very simple and/or defined opening is made possible, and the opening may in particular also be automated and/or capable of being carried out using a punch or other tool that deforms the packaging in order to open it.

Further advantages, features, properties and aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment by reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section through a proposed packaging; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic section through the packaging with an associated fluidic assembly.

In the Figures the same reference numerals have been used for identical or similar parts where corresponding or comparable properties and advantages are achieved, even if the description is not repeated.

FIG. 1 shows in diagrammatic section a proposed packaging 1 having at least one cavity 2 for receiving a liquid 3.

The packaging 1 seals in the liquid 3 preferably at least substantially in fluidtight and/or gastight manner.

The packaging 1 is embodied in particular as a blister pack. The cavity 2 is formed in particular by a blister of the packaging 1 or blister pack.

The liquid 3 is, in particular, an investigation liquid, a washing liquid, a reaction liquid, a solvent or the like, particularly preferably for use in a microfluidic system for determining an analyte or value and/or for investigating, in particular, a preferably biological sample or the like.

The packaging 1 comprises a support 4 and an associated cover 5.

The support 4 is, in particular, an at least substantially flat or planar element and/or flat material and/or a base layer or base film or the like.

The support 4 may be relatively rigid or else flexible and/or deformable at least in some areas. Preferably, the support 4 has relatively great rigidity or strength in its main direction or plane of extent.

In the embodiment shown, the support 4 is preferably more rigid or stiff in construction than the cover 5 and/or sufficiently rigid to at least substantially or primarily determine the deformation of the packaging 1.

The cover 5 is preferably an at least substantially flat or planar and/or smooth element or flat material and/or a cover layer or cover film, particularly preferably for flatly covering the associated support 4.

Preferably, the support 4 and/or the cover 5 is or are embodied as a film and/or made of film, plastics, metal and/or a composite material containing plastics and/or metal, in particular.

The support 4 and the cover 5 may theoretically be made from the same material. In the embodiment shown, the support 4 and the cover 5 are, however, preferably made from different materials.

The cover 5 is preferably of flexible and/or deformable construction and is in particular capable of being opened, for example, by tearing open, pressing in, piercing or the like, particularly preferably in order to take out or dispense the liquid 3. Alternatively or additionally, the support 4 may also be openable in corresponding manner.

At least one cavity 2 for holding the liquid 3 is formed between the support 4 and the cover 5. Particularly preferably, a number of cavities 2 are formed.

In particular the packaging 1 or the support 4 and/or cover 5 may particularly preferably consist of a strip of continuous material or the like. The continuous material can then be divided or separated into individual packages 1 each having at least one cavity 2 for holding the liquid 3, before or preferably after the introduction of the liquid 3, as required. The following description will detail only the preferred construction of a cavity 2, even though the continuous material or the packaging 1 may comprise several such cavities 2, optionally also of different sizes and/or containing different liquids 3.

In order to form the cavity 2, a depression or concavity is preferably formed in the support 4 and/or cover 5, preferably only in the support 4 in the embodiment shown, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The depression or concavity is particularly in the form of a well. The depression or cavity 2 is produced in particular by thermoforming and/or deep-drawing, in this case of the support 4.

After the introduction of the liquid 3 into the depression or concavity or cavity 2—in the support 4 according to the embodiment shown—the packaging 1 or cavity 2 is closed or sealed. To do this the cover 5 is placed on top and at least partly attached to the support 4 in a connecting region 6. The connecting region 6 is formed in particular in the region of flatly abutting surface regions of the support 4 and cover 5. The connecting region 6 adjoins the cavity 2, particularly laterally and/or circumferentially. For example, the connecting region may surround the cavity 2 in an annular configuration.

The connecting region 6 or, in the case of a plurality of cavities, the plurality of connecting regions 6, is or are preferably located in a plane E and/or main plane of extent E and/or on a flat side of the packaging 1, the support 4 and/or cover 5. In particular, the connecting region 6 surrounds the cavity 2 in question in a circumferential and/or annular manner.

The connecting of the support 4 and cover 5 is preferably carried out by heat-sealing, welding, adhesion and/or any other suitable method.

The support 4 and the cover 5 are connected or connectable with one another at least substantially in fluidtight manner, in particular in at least substantially gastight, continuous, annular and/or circumferential manner.

FIG. 1 shows the proposed packaging 1 in the filled state. The cavity 2 (the blister) is filled with liquid 3 and sealed.

According to the proposal, the packaging 1 comprises an opening device 7 integrated therein, for opening the packaging 1 or cavity 2 or cover 5. The opening device 7 is preferably formed in one piece with the packaging 1 or the support 4 and/or formed in or by the support 4, as indicated by way of example in FIG. 1.

The opening device 7 preferably comprises a portion 8 protruding into the cavity 2 or towards the cover 5 or is formed thereby.

Particularly preferably, the opening device 7 or the portion 8 is produced by thermoforming or deep-drawing the support 4 or the material that forms the support 4. Alternatively or additionally, the opening device 7 or the protruding portion 8 may also be formed by an additional element, piece of material or the like that is in particular fixedly connected to the support 4, and/or by a thickened portion. In particular, the opening device 7 or the portion 8 may also be reinforced relative to other portions or areas of the support 4, for example, by means of a reinforcing structure (not shown) such as ribs or the like, and/or by a thickening of the material, by strengthening of the material, by an insert, by an additional layer and/or by additional or different or modified material or the like.

The portion 8 or its end region or free end is particularly preferably of conical and/or pointed configuration and/or is directed towards the cover 4 or the main plane of extent E.

In the embodiment shown, the opening device 7 is preferably arranged or formed somewhat at a spacing from the actual cavity 2, in particular in a channel 9 or the like that, particularly preferably, laterally adjoins the cavity 2. The channel 9 is in particular also formed by the packaging 1, particularly preferably by a corresponding depression or concavity of the support 4. The channel 9 is preferably directly fluidically connected to the cavity 2 even when the packaging 1 is closed or the cover 5 is closed.

Particularly preferably, the opening device 7 in the embodiment shown is formed in the region of one end of the channel 9.

Preferably, the channel wall, spaced from the cover 5 or another wall portion of the support 4 or channel 9 spaced from the cover 5, is provided with the opening device 7 or the protruding portion 8. However, other design solutions or arrangements are also possible.

The packaging 1 or opening device 7 is preferably configured such that the packaging 1 is opened by at least partial deformation or depression, particularly of the support 4 or cover 5, in this case of the support 4 or the wall of the channel 9 or of the protruding portion 8, particularly in a predetermined region or adjacent to the opening device 7. In particular, when depressed, the opening device 7 or the protruding portion 8 opens the cover 5, particularly by tearing or cutting open, piercing or the like. The opening of the cover 5 is carried out particularly in an area that is immediately adjacent to or opposite the opening device 7 or the protruding portion 8.

To assist with the opening, the cover 5 may be provided in the opening area with at least one “predetermined breaking point”, for example, by suitable weakening of the material or the like.

Alternatively or additionally, to assist with the opening, the support 4 may be embodied to be particularly easily deformable, or with relatively little or less force, in the region of the opening device 7, particularly around the protruding portion 8. This may be achieved, for example, by corresponding weakening of the material and/or shaping of the support 4 in this region. Such shaping may comprise, for example, the configuration of a corresponding flexible corrugation around the protruding portion 8 or the like.

Preferably, the packaging 1 or the opening device 8 comprises a deformation region which is formed here, in particular, by a corrugation-like structure 10 which enables particularly easy deformation of the packaging 1 or, here, of the support 4, for ease of deformation or actuation of the opening device 7, particularly to enable the protruding portion 8 to be pressed relatively easily against the cover 5 in order to open the packaging 1.

FIG. 2 shows, in a diagrammatic section, not to scale, the proposed packaging 1 with an associated fluidic assembly 11. In particular, the packaging 1 is fixed or non-releasably connected to the fluidic assembly 11. In particular, the packaging is connected or connectable to the fluidic assembly 11 in fluidtight and/or gastight manner so that liquid 3 can be fed from the cavity 2 to the fluidic assembly 11—particularly preferably after the packaging 1 or cavity 2 has been opened.

In the embodiment shown, the packaging 1 is mounted or attached to the fluidic assembly 10 particularly by its flat side or the cover 5, for example by adhesion, heat-sealing, welding or the like. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the drawing diagrammatically shows that the sealed packaging 1 or cavity 2 is attached to a support part 12 of the fluidic assembly 11 particularly by means of a sealing or adhesive layer 13, for example, a double-sided adhesive strip. However, a different connection and/or different design solutions are also possible.

The packaging 1 or cavity 2 is preferably arranged such that, with its opening region, i.e. the region that can be opened by the opening device 7, it at least partly covers a drain 14 of the fluidic assembly 11, more particularly is arranged above it. The drain 14 is formed, for example, by a depression, a channel or the like, particularly in the support part 12. A channel 15 or other, particularly microfluidic structure of the fluidic assembly 11 may adjoin the drain 14. Particularly preferably, the drain 14 and/or the channel 15 form part of a microfluidic structure of the fluidic assembly 11. By “microfluidic” are meant here volumes of preferably less than 1 ml.

The fluidic assembly 11 or microfluidic structure may further comprise an investigation region (not shown) or the like, for example, for a biological sample such as blood, blood constituents or the like.

In the embodiment shown, the cavity 2 or the blister formed thereby in the packaging 1 or blister packaging is preferably used as a reservoir for the liquid 3, while the packaging 1 or cavity 2 is attached to the fluidic assembly 11 for holding the liquid 3 after the packaging 1 or cavity 2 has been opened. In theory, however, the proposed packaging 1 can also be used for other purposes.

In order to open the cavity 2 or dispense liquid 3, the packaging 1 is opened by means of the opening device 7, particularly by actuation of the opening device 7.

In order to open the cavity 2 or the cover 5 or to actuate the opening device 7 the packaging 1 or the support 4 is deformed, particularly preferably in the region of the channel 9 or the opening device 7, in the embodiment shown, so that the opening device 7 or the protruding portion 8 opens the cover 5, in particular, especially by tearing it open, piercing it, cutting it or the like. This—preferably only partial—deformation of the packaging 1 or support 4 is preferably done using a tool, such as a punch 16 as shown in FIG. 2, or the like.

In order to open the cover 5 or the cover film, the latter is pressed by the opening device 7 or by the portion 8, for example, into a depression located below it, such as the drain 14, and thereby locally deformed and overstressed until the cover 5 or the cover film tears in this region and thereby opens the cavity 2—in this case through the channel 9—towards the fluidic assembly 11.

After the opening of the packaging 1 or the cover 5, the liquid 3 is able to flow out of the cavity 2 into the fluidic assembly 11 or the drain 14 or the microfluidic system of the assembly 11. This outflow of the liquid 3 can be brought about or assisted by gravitational force, capillary forces, suction, compression, reduced pressure, excess pressure or the like.

In the embodiment shown, deformation of the cavity 2 preferably additionally takes place after the opening of the packaging 1 or of the cover 5, particularly in a second step, in order to put the liquid 3 under pressure and/or expel it from the packaging 1 or cavity 2 and convey it to the fluidic assembly 11. This deformation of the cavity 2 may be done, for example, using a tool, such as the punch 17 shown, or by another suitable method, possibly also by manual deformation with a finger or the like.

The opening of the packaging 1 or actuation of the opening device 7 or the (partial) deformation of the packaging 1 or support 4 required for this purpose, on the one hand, and the deformation of the cavity 2 in order to place the liquid 3 under pressure and/or expel it from the cavity 2, on the other hand, may be carried out independently of one another, but also linked together, as indicated by the dashed line connecting the two punches 16 and 17. For this purpose it is also possible, for example, for the punches 16 and 17 to be formed by a shared tool or the like and/or to be controlled or moved in correspondingly correlated manner.

The opening of the packaging 1 or cavity 2 by means of the opening device 7 may if required also be carried out by the fluidic assembly 11, for example, by means of a drive for the punch 16 associated with the assembly 11. The same applies to possible deformation of the cavity 2 for placing the liquid 3 under pressure and/or conveying it out of the cavity 2 into the fluidic assembly 11.

In addition, depending on the construction and requirements, the packaging 1 may also be provided with a venting device (not shown) which is opened, for example, by corresponding deformation of the device 1 or of the support 4 or actuation of the opening device 7 and/or when the cavity 2 is deformed, and allows ambient air, for example, to flow through a corresponding opening in the support 4 or cover 5 into the cavity 2. Venting may if required also be carried out through the fluidic assembly 11, if desired even through the opening produced by the opening device 7. For this purpose the opening device 7 may, for example, produce a correspondingly shaped or sufficiently large opening in the cover 5 or some other part of the packaging 1 and/or optionally a plurality of openings, for example, by means of a number of protruding portions 8.

A particular advantage of the combination of the proposed packaging 1 with the fluidic assembly 11 is that it allows connection of this kind, for example, by attachment on the flat side, to be carried out very easily, so that a fluidtight and preferably also gastight connection or one that is sealed off from the ambient air can be produced between the cavity 2, on the one hand, and the fluidic assembly 11 or the microfluidic system formed thereby or contained therein or the drain 14 or the like, on the other hand.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 packaging -   2 cavity -   3 liquid -   4 support -   5 cover -   6 connecting region -   7 opening device -   8 portion -   9 channel -   10 structure -   11 fluidic assembly -   12 support portion -   13 adhesive layer -   14 drain -   15 channel -   16 punch -   17 punch -   20 -   E plane 

1. Packaging (1) having at least one cavity (2) for holding a liquid (3), the packaging (1) comprising a support (4) and a cover (5), between which the cavity (2) is formed, characterised in that the packaging (1) comprises an opening device (7) integrated in the packaging (1) for opening the cavity (2) or the cover (5).
 2. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening device (7) is formed in or by the support (4).
 3. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging (1) or opening device (7) is embodied such that it is opened by at least partial deformation or depression of the support (4) or cover (5).
 4. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening device (7) comprises or is formed by a portion (8) protruding into the cavity (2) or towards the cover (5).
 5. The packaging according to claim 4, characterised in that the portion (8) is of conical and/or pointed configuration or a combination thereof.
 6. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging (1) comprises a channel (9) fluidically connected to the cavity (2), the opening device (7) being arranged in or formed in the channel (9).
 7. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (4) and the cover (5) are connected or connectable in the connecting region (6) in an at least substantially fluidtight, continuous, annular or circumferential manner or a combination thereof.
 8. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (4) and the cover (5) are connected or connectable to one another by adhesion, heat-sealing or welding.
 9. The packaging according claim 1, characterised in that the support (4) is partly deep-drawn or thermoformed in order to form the cavity (2).
 10. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the cover (5) is of at least substantially flat and/or smooth or a combination thereof configuration.
 11. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that a fluidic assembly (11) is connected to the packaging (1)—particularly in fluidtight and/or gastight manner—so that liquid (3) can be supplied from the cavity (2) to the fluidic assembly (11).
 12. The packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the liquid (3) contains an investigation liquid, a washing liquid, a reaction liquid or a solvent.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled) 